main content of page
Racing News |
Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green™ Perseveres at Ironman GNCC
Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green™ faced a challenging day at the Ironman Grand National Cross Country race in Crawfordsville, Indiana, as rough terrain, heavy dust, and mechanical setbacks tested the team throughout the afternoon. Despite the adversity, Steward Baylor Jr. kept himself in the championship fight heading into the season finale, while Nick DeFeo delivered an impressive performance in just his second race back following an extended absence due to injury.
Entering the weekend in the thick of the XC1 championship battle, Baylor knew the importance of a strong result with just two rounds remaining. After getting a decent start, Baylor quickly settled into third overall and looked poised to battle for another podium finish. However, his race took an unexpected turn when he ran out of fuel on the course.
Baylor was forced to push his bike up the racetrack before eventually receiving enough fuel from a team member to make it back to the pits. Once there, the team refueled his machine and installed a fresh air filter to combat the extremely dusty conditions. Although the setback cost him valuable time and positions, Baylor continued fighting to salvage as many championship points as possible, riding his way back to seventh overall.
With just one round remaining, Baylor now sits nine points behind in the championship standings, setting the stage for a dramatic season finale with the title still within reach.
Teammate Josh Toth faced a difficult afternoon of his own. After running outside the Top 10 in the demanding conditions, Toth also suffered a mechanical issue that ultimately brought his race to an early end on Lap 4.
One of the team's bright spots came from DeFeo, who made his return to GNCC competition the round prior at Mason-Dixon, after recovering from a leg injury sustained earlier in the season. He wasted little time getting back up to speed, running inside the XC2 Top 5 and battling for a podium position.
DeFeo ultimately crossed the finish line fourth in XC2, narrowly missing the podium by just four seconds. The result marked a positive step in DeFeo’s return to competition and demonstrated that he still has the pace to compete at the front of the class.
While Ironman proved to be a challenging round for much of the team, the championship remains the primary focus as the season draws to a close. With Baylor just nine points out of the lead, Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green will regroup and prepare for one final opportunity to fight for the XC1 Pro Championship.
